Recruitment Rules

**** By placing your club into the NEP, your club is considered to be in automatic acceptance of the League rule, policies and procedures ***

The NEP’s philosophy is that a league should exist to complement the player development that is happening at the club level. The NEP is designed to provide the most appropriate environment for game play to assist the elite clubs in New England to provide the optimal development environment for their players. As such, all participants must conduct themselves to the highest standard at all times. Adult participants – coaches and parents – are expected to be role models for the young players involved in this league and should exhibit good sporting behavior regardless of result.

In addition to the NEP League’s stated bylaws, rules and policies the NEP has introduced a code of ethics to cover the recruiting of players:

Coaches are not allowed to contact any players from another NEP club during regular season play. Contact may only be initiated by a coach during the stated time frame for try-outs.

If a player initiates contact with a coach during regular season play, the coach must ask the player if they are committed to another NEP club. If so, then the player will be asked to inform their current club of their intent to try-out for another club before any further action may be taken. Players may not attend training sessions as a "guest" whilst playing for another NEP club. The League expectation is that clubs will communicate clearly and honorably through this process.

NEP clubs are not allowed to acquire teams from another club within the NEP to bring into their own organization. Club mergers do not fall into this category.

NEP clubs will adopt a 12 month non-compete rule where a current NEP coach is employed by another NEP club. This means for 12 months the newly appointed coach cannot work in the same age and gender of his/her previous club unless the coach moves residence outside of the current region – or unless there is prior permission from the former club.

The official League date for contacting a player to try-out will be:

U9-12 - Wednesday, May 31, 2016 (or 1st day after Memorial Day)

U13-18 - Monday, June 13, 2016 (or 1st day after end of NEP season)

All NEP clubs will be allowed to hold try-outs on:

U10-11 - On or after June 13, 2016 *

U12-18 - On or after June 20, 2016 *

* These dates are subject to changed.

If an NEP member is alleged to be in violation of these ethics they will be required to stand before the NEP Soccer Ethics Committee. The Committee will be made up of at least 3 and no more than 5 club members. Any coach, manager or club official who is found to be guilty of breaching the code of ethics may be suspended from participation in all NEP activities for the current and subsequent season of play.